Ready to light fuel container

ABSTRACT

A fuel container has a fuel reservoir, a flame guard affixed atop the fuel reservoir and providing a wick holder, and a fuel container flange at the connection of the flame guard to the fuel container extending radially outward from the fuel container.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to outdoor torches in general and, moreparticularly, to liquid fuel burning torches.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outdoor torches, lawn torches, patio torches and the like frequentlyrely on liquid fuels for operation. The fuels may contain scents,repellents, and other additives. Some inconveniences of operation ofsuch torches include the fueling or refueling operation, and placementof the fuel cannister within the torch for proper function.

Some fuel cannisters come prefilled and may be considered disposable orrecyclable in that the fuel canister itself may be discarded after userather than refilled from a separate container. Still, issues remainwith respect to installation and operation of these fuel canisters. Someissues that may be faced include positioning the fuel container into areceptacle and attachment of a flame guard for proper operation.Additionally, even if the fuel cannister is already provided with a wickit may have need to be properly exposed and set for operation. This mayinvolve contact with the fuel as the wick is extracted or exposed fromit's packing or shipping location. Extension of the wick may also meanit no longer has the ability to draw all of the fuel out of thecontainer while burning properly.

What is needed is a system and device for addressing the above andrelated issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof,comprises a fuel container having a fuel reservoir, a flame guardaffixed atop the fuel reservoir and providing a wick holder, and a fuelcontainer flange at the connection of the flame guard to the fuelcontainer extending radially outward from the fuel container.

The flame guard may provide a flame guard flange affixed to a fuelreservoir flange on the fuel reservoir forming the fuel containerflange. The flame guard flange may be roll seamed with the fuelreservoir flange to form the fuel container flange.

In some embodiments, the flame guard comprises a frustoconical shroudelevating the wick holder from the fuel reservoir. The flame guard maycomprise an externally threaded neck affixed to the shroud andcontaining the wick holder. A wick may be retained in the wick holder inan operational position wherein that the wick is operable to combustliquid fuel and extends into the fuel reservoir to contact a floorthereof. The fuel container may have a quantity of torch fuel within thefuel reservoir, and a cap affixed to the threaded neck to seal the neckagainst fuel leaks without moving the wick from the operationalposition.

The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof,comprises a fuel container including a fuel reservoir permanently matedto a flame guard to form a first flange extending radially outward fromthe fuel reservoir. The flame guard comprises a shroud elevating anintegrated neck above the fuel reservoir and having a wick with aposition in the neck that is exposed to allow operation of the wick toburn liquid fuel while the wick extends to a bottom floor of the fuelreservoir.

In some embodiments, the fuel reservoir is roll seamed to the flameguard to form the first flange. In another embodiment, the first flangeis formed from roll seaming a flame guard flange to a fuel reservoirflange. The fuel reservoir may comprise a sidewall permanently attachedto the bottom floor and to the fuel reservoir flange such that noopenings into the fuel reservoir exist through the neck of the flameguard.

The fuel container may include a quantity of fuel in the fuel reservoir.It may also comprise a replaceable cap that fits onto the neck in such amanner as to seal the neck against fuel leaks while the wick remains atthe position in the neck where it is exposed to allow operation of thewick to burn liquid fuel while the wick extends to a bottom floor of thefuel reservoir.

In some cases, the shroud is frustoconical and tapers from the firstflange inward to the neck. The neck may provide external threads, andthe replaceable cap may provide cooperating internal threads.

The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof,comprises a torch having a fuel reservoir permanently mated to a flameguard to form a first flange extending radially outward from the fuelreservoir, and a pole mounted receptacle that receives the fuelreservoir suspended therein by the first flange. The flame guardcomprises a shroud elevating an integrated neck above the fuel reservoirand having a wick with a position in the neck that is exposed to allowoperation of the wick to burn liquid fuel while the wick extends to abottom floor of the fuel reservoir.

In some cases, the fuel reservoir comprises a cylindrical wall affixedto the flame guard. The receptacle may be covered by the first shroud.The fuel reservoir may have no openings apart from the neck of the flameguard. In some cases the torch further comprises a cap that fits ontothe neck in such a manner as to seal the neck against fuel leaks whilethe wick remains at the position in the neck where it is exposed toallow operation of the wick to burn liquid fuel while the wick extendsto a bottom floor of the fuel reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a ready to light fuel container according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a fuel container of the present disclosureinserted into an operational lawn torch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, is a side view of a ready to light fuelcontainer 100 according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.The fuel container 100 may comprise a flame guard 102 affixed to a fuelreservoir 104. A flange 106 may be affixed to the flame guard 102 and/orthe fuel reservoir 104 to allow the fuel container 100 to be insertedand suspended inside a torch or torch holder for operation. The flameguard 102 shields components below it from exposure to fire, soot, andother combustion products, at least to an extent.

Referring now to FIG. 2, an exploded perspective view of the fuelcontainer of FIG. 1 is shown. The flame guard 102 may comprise a neck202 with external threads 204 for receiving a cap (e.g., cap 314, FIG.3). Internally, the neck 202 may operate as or otherwise contain a wickholder 205. Surrounding the neck 202 is a shroud 206. The shroud 206 maybe frustoconical in shape or could have other shapes. The shroud 206 mayprovide for elevation of the neck 202 somewhat above or superior to thefuel reservoir 104. This may be for purposes of increased lighting andscent/repellant dispersal or to further elevate and isolate flame fromsurrounding components.

The shroud 206 may terminate at an outer edge forming a shroud flange208. The shroud flange may extend generally laterally and horizontallyaway from a centerline of the fuel container 100. In some cases, theshroud flange 208 forms the flange 102 of the fuel container but it mayalso join with other components to form the flange 102 as describedbelow.

The fuel reservoir 104 may comprise a sidewall 210, which may have acylindrical shape. A bottom of the fuel reservoir 104 may be closed byfloor 212 joined to the sidewall 210. The floor 212 may be seam rolled,welded, or otherwise affixed to the sidewall 210 if the floor 212 andsidewall are formed of separate components (e.g., as metalliccomponents). However, they may also be formed integrally (e.g., aspolymeric components).

The sidewall 210 forms a top opening 216 (at least initially) that maybe surrounded by a sidewall flange 214. The sidewall flange 214 may formthe flange 102 of the fuel container 100 or it may be joined to theshroud flange 208 to form the flange 106. The sidewall flange 214 may bejoined to the shroud flange 208 by seam rolling, welding, gluing, orother means depending upon the materials used to form the sidewallflange 214 and the shroud flange 208.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of a fuel container 100 of thepresent disclosure inserted into an operational lawn torch 300 is shown.The lawn torch 300 is only exemplary and embodiments of the fuelcontainer 100 may find application beyond this example. Here the lawntorch comprises a pole 304 inserted into ground surface 302. Atop thepole 304 is a receptacle 306. The fuel container 100 may provide thefuel 308, a wick 316, flame guard 102 and other needed components in aready to use, ready to light, package.

The fuel container 100 may be sized for direct insertion into thereceptacle 306 such that the fuel reservoir 104 is suspended within thereceptacle 306. The flange 106 may rest atop the receptable and coverall or part of an opening of the receptacle 306 into which the fuelreservoir 104 is inserted. The flame guard 102 is thereby positionedoutside and at the highest point on the torch 300 for operation.

The fuel container 100 may be provided with a cap 314 that fits to thethreads 204 to prevent leakage or spillage of fuel 308 during transit orwhen not otherwise in use. The neck 202 and/or wick holder 205, as wellas the flame guard 102 and fuel reservoir 104, may be sized such thatthe wick 316 is sufficiently exposed for proper operation as soon as thecap 314 is removed. The wick 316, fuel reservoir 104, and the flameguard 102, including neck 202, may be sized such that the wick 316extends all the way to the floor 212 of the fuel reservoir 104minimizing unburnable fuel within the fuel reservoir 104.

The torch 300 may also provide a snuffer 310 on a tether 312. The cap314 may be replaced on the neck 202 after snuffing to prevent fuel lossor spillage when the torch 300 is not in operation.

It will be appreciated that by forming the flame guard 102 as the onlytop covering for the fuel reservoir 210, several problems may beavoided. These include, but are not limited to, the need to provide aseparate lid, flame guard, and means for suspending the product within atorch receptacle. While a cap 314 may still be used to protect the wick316 and/or prevent spillage through the wick holder 205, the cap 314used may also utilize a thread specification that is common to fuelcontainers and may be the only threaded connection of the fuel container100. Other connections may be permanent in that apart from the cap 314and neck 202, joined components do not need to be, and may not be,nondestructively separable. For purposes of the present disclosure anintegral or permanent connection would be a connection wherein theconnected components cannot be separated without tools and would not beor would not be expected to be reusable if separated. The embodiments ofthe present disclosure also reduce the number of mechanical connectionsrelying on tight tolerance of the component pieces (for example, priorart flame guard and fuel cannister interfaces). One of skill in the artwill readily appreciate other advantages and distinctions.

It is to be understood that the terms “including”, “comprising”,“consisting” and grammatical variants thereof do not preclude theaddition of one or more components, features, steps, or integers orgroups thereof and that the terms are to be construed as specifyingcomponents, features, steps or integers.

If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, thatdoes not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

It is to be understood that where the claims or specification refer to“a” or “an” element, such reference is not be construed that there isonly one of that element.

It is to be understood that where the specification states that acomponent, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, “can”or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure,or characteristic is not required to be included.

Where applicable, although state diagrams, flow diagrams or both may beused to describe embodiments, the invention is not limited to thosediagrams or to the corresponding descriptions. For example, flow neednot move through each illustrated box or state, or in exactly the sameorder as illustrated and described.

Methods of the present invention may be implemented by performing orcompleting manually, automatically, or a combination thereof, selectedsteps or tasks.

The term “method” may refer to manners, means, techniques and proceduresfor accomplishing a given task including, but not limited to, thosemanners, means, techniques and procedures either known to, or readilydeveloped from known manners, means, techniques and procedures bypractitioners of the art to which the invention belongs.

The term “at least” followed by a number is used herein to denote thestart of a range beginning with that number (which may be a rangerhaving an upper limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable beingdefined). For example, “at least 1” means 1 or more than 1. The term “atmost” followed by a number is used herein to denote the end of a rangeending with that number (which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lowerlimit, or a range having no lower limit, depending upon the variablebeing defined). For example, “at most 4” means 4 or less than 4, and “atmost 40%” means 40% or less than 40%.

When, in this document, a range is given as “(a first number) to (asecond number)” or “(a first number)—(a second number)”, this means arange whose lower limit is the first number and whose upper limit is thesecond number. For example, 25 to 100 should be interpreted to mean arange whose lower limit is 25 and whose upper limit is 100.Additionally, it should be noted that where a range is given, everypossible subrange or interval within that range is also specificallyintended unless the context indicates to the contrary. For example, ifthe specification indicates a range of 25 to 100 such range is alsointended to include subranges such as 26-100, 27-100, etc., 25-99,25-98, etc., as well as any other possible combination of lower andupper values within the stated range, e.g., 33-47, 60-97, 41-45, 28-96,etc. Note that integer range values have been used in this paragraph forpurposes of illustration only and decimal and fractional values (e.g.,46.7-91.3) should also be understood to be intended as possible subrangeendpoints unless specifically excluded.

It should be noted that where reference is made herein to a methodcomprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carriedout in any order or simultaneously (except where context excludes thatpossibility), and the method can also include one or more other stepswhich are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two ofthe defined steps, or after all of the defined steps (except wherecontext excludes that possibility).

Further, it should be noted that terms of approximation (e.g., “about”,“substantially”, “approximately”, etc.) are to be interpreted accordingto their ordinary and customary meanings as used in the associated artunless indicated otherwise herein. Absent a specific definition withinthis disclosure, and absent ordinary and customary usage in theassociated art, such terms should be interpreted to be plus or minus 10%of the base value.

Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects andattain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherenttherein. While the inventive device has been described and illustratedherein by reference to certain preferred embodiments in relation to thedrawings attached thereto, various changes and further modifications,apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made therein by thoseof ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit of theinventive concept the scope of which is to be determined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fuel container comprising: a fuel reservoir; aflame guard affixed atop the fuel reservoir and providing a wick holder;a fuel container flange at the connection of the flame guard to the fuelcontainer extending radially outward from the fuel container.
 2. Thefuel container of claim 1, wherein the flame guard provides a flameguard flange affixed to a fuel reservoir flange on the fuel reservoirforming the fuel container flange.
 3. The fuel container of claim 2,wherein the flame guard flange is roll seamed with the fuel reservoirflange to form the fuel container flange.
 4. The fuel container of claim2, wherein the flame guard comprises a frustoconical shroud elevatingthe wick holder from the fuel reservoir.
 5. The fuel container of claim4, wherein the flame guard comprises an externally threaded neck affixedto the shroud and containing the wick holder.
 6. The fuel container ofclaim 5, further comprising a wick retained in the wick holder in anoperational position wherein that the wick is operable to combust liquidfuel and extends into the fuel reservoir to contact a floor thereof. 7.The fuel container of claim 6, further comprising a quantity of torchfuel within the fuel reservoir and a cap affixed to the threaded neck toseal the neck against fuel leaks without moving the wick from theoperational position.
 8. A fuel container comprising: a fuel reservoirpermanently mated to a flame guard to form a first flange extendingradially outward from the fuel reservoir; wherein the flame guardcomprises a shroud elevating an integrated neck above the fuel reservoirand having a wick with a position in the neck that is exposed to allowoperation of the wick to burn liquid fuel while the wick extends to abottom floor of the fuel reservoir.
 9. The fuel container of claim 8,wherein the fuel reservoir is roll seamed to the flame guard to form thefirst flange.
 10. The fuel container of claim 9, wherein the firstflange is formed from roll seaming a flame guard flange to a fuelreservoir flange.
 11. The fuel container of claim 9, wherein the fuelreservoir comprises a sidewall permanently attached to the bottom floorand to the fuel reservoir flange such that no openings into the fuelreservoir exist through the neck of the flame guard.
 12. The fuelcontainer of claim 11, further comprising a quantity of fuel in the fuelreservoir.
 13. The fuel container of claim 12, further comprising areplaceable cap that fits onto the neck in such a manner as to seal theneck against fuel leaks while the wick remains at the position in theneck where it is exposed to allow operation of the wick to burn liquidfuel while the wick extends to a bottom floor of the fuel reservoir. 14.The fuel container of claim 13, wherein the shroud is frustoconical andtapers from the first flange inward to the neck.
 15. The fuel containerof claim 14, wherein the neck provides external threads and thereplaceable cap provides cooperating internal threads.
 16. A torchcomprising: a fuel reservoir permanently mated to a flame guard to forma first flange extending radially outward from the fuel reservoir; and apole mounted receptacle that receives the fuel reservoir suspendedtherein by the first flange; wherein the flame guard comprises a shroudelevating an integrated neck above the fuel reservoir and having a wickwith a position in the neck that is exposed to allow operation of thewick to burn liquid fuel while the wick extends to a bottom floor of thefuel reservoir.
 17. The torch of claim 16, wherein the fuel reservoircomprises a cylindrical wall affixed to the flame guard.
 18. The torchof claim 17, wherein the receptacle is covered by the first shroud. 19.The torch of claim 18, wherein the fuel reservoir has no openings apartfrom the neck of the flame guard.
 20. The torch of claim 19, furthercomprising a cap that fits onto the neck in such a manner as to seal theneck against fuel leaks while the wick remains at the position in theneck where it is exposed to allow operation of the wick to burn liquidfuel while the wick extends to a bottom floor of the fuel reservoir.